A Pleasant Collaboration

Shendu's pupils contracted slightly at Tony's words.

Tony waved a hand. "Relax. It's just a routine examination. I do it for every new teammate. It's just that your blood is very interesting."

Ignoring Shendu's reaction, Tony continued, "Your cellular structure is completely different from a human's, yet you don't resemble a purely extraterrestrial creature either."

"I found something ancient in your genes, like it had been sealed away for a long time and was only recently reactivated."

He looked at Shendu. "Still, it makes sense. Dragons are legendary creatures, after all. But I've gotten some Asgardian dragon blood from Thor before, and you're clearly not on the same level."

Shendu remained silent for a long time.

He quickly weighed things in his mind. How much did Tony know? How much had Tony believed of his explanation about the mole? If he turned hostile now, could he get out of here unscathed?

Shendu soon reached an answer: no.

Since Tony dared say all this to his face, he had clearly come prepared.

There might already be a large number of armored suits waiting outside. His strength had yet to fully recover, so fighting head-on was not a wise choice.

"Mr. Stark is indeed perceptive."

Shendu spoke with a trace of helplessness in his tone. "You're right. I'm not an ordinary dragon. In my eyes, Asgardian dragons are merely oversized lizards with wings."

Shendu did his best to appear candid. "As you know, I come from another world. I was once a powerful being, but for certain reasons, I lost most of my power and can now only exist in this form."

"As for why I'm familiar with Chitauri technology, it's because I've seen similar creatures in my world."

Tony narrowed his eyes at him, as though discerning the truth in Shendu's words.

Shendu continued, "I know you don't trust me. That's wise. But I can tell you that I bear no ill will toward Earth right now. The Avengers and I are on the same side."

"The same side?"

Tony repeated it, his tone tinged with amusement. "Then why did you hide this from S.H.I.E.L.D. and do all this in secret?"

Shendu's tone was matter-of-fact. "I'm not sure who can be trusted. If there truly is a mole within S.H.I.E.L.D., revealing too much would only make that mole act ahead of time."

Tony fell silent for a few seconds, then laughed again.

"Fine. I'll accept that explanation for now."

"But an explanation alone isn't enough if you want me to help clean up your mess."

Shendu looked at him. "What does Mr. Stark want?"

Tony stepped forward. "I want your blood."

Shendu's pupils shrank slightly.

"Don't worry, not much."

Tony waved a hand. "Give me samples regularly so I can continue my research. Don't worry, I'm only interested in your genetic structure. I won't use it for anything else."

He looked at Shendu and emphasized his words. "That's the condition. If you really are on the same side as us, you shouldn't mind letting me learn a little more about you, right?"

Shendu stared at Tony, thinking rapidly.

Agreeing to Tony's condition meant that part of his secrets would continue to be studied, which might risk exposure.

But if he refused, there would be no way to settle things today, and he would completely lose Tony's trust.

More importantly, Tony had already drawn his blood. Refusing would not change that fact.

"Fine."

Shendu finally nodded. "But I have conditions as well."

Tony raised a brow. "Let's hear them."

"First, my blood may only be used for research. It cannot be handed over to S.H.I.E.L.D. or any other organization."

Tony nodded. "Reasonable."

"Second." Shendu looked at Quill beside him. "This matter cannot implicate him or his mother. They're innocent."

Tony's gaze swept over Quill. "Fine."

"Third."

Shendu looked at the agent who had just turned human again. Tony was tactful enough to signal for the man to move farther away for the moment.

"I need Mr. Stark to keep a secret for me."

Tony's eyes narrowed slightly. "What secret?"

Shendu took the Monkey Talisman from Quill's hand and opened his palm before Tony.

"This."

Tony stared at the talisman, frowning slightly. "That pendant?"

Shendu nodded and explained, "Yes. It's an item from my world. It possesses special power, but it isn't dangerous. I need it to recover my strength, and I can't let too many people know it exists."

Tony had not expected the final condition to be something as simple as keeping a secret.

"So you went through all this trouble for this?"

"Yes." Shendu appeared utterly candid.

Tony studied him with a scrutinizing gaze before finally nodding. "Fine. I can keep this secret for you, but you have to tell me what this thing actually does."

Shendu hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking. "It can transform people or animals."

Tony's brows rose.

"Like how that agent turned into a rooster?"

"Yes."

Tony stared at the talisman for a long time, then whistled. "Interesting."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Shendu again. "Fine, deal. Your blood in exchange for me helping you clean up this mess, plus keeping your secret."

Tony extended his hand. "Pleasant collaboration?"

Shendu looked at that hand, then slowly shook it. "Pleasant collaboration."

"What about that pigeon?" Tony pointed at the pigeon wearing an agent's clothes atop the chicken coop.

"Easy."

Shendu activated the Monkey Talisman. A streak of light flew toward the pigeon, and an agent still wearing a dazed expression appeared before them.

"I'll leave the rest to you."

Most of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s patrol personnel had been drawn away by the commotion Shendu caused. Under Tony's cover, Shendu and Quill easily made their way out.

"Quill!"

After the interrogation, Quill's mother had returned home and waited for a long time. Seeing her son come back safely, she immediately rushed over and hugged him. "Thank God you're all right."

Quill returned his mother's embrace. "Mom, they didn't do anything to you afterward, did they?"

Quill's mother shook her head. "No. They didn't get what they wanted from me, so they sent me back."

Shendu watched the mother and son from the side and chose to step away. Filial piety had also been a tradition in his original world. Unfortunately, his own son had been useless and wanted to kill him.

Shendu did not disturb the mother and son afterward. He went to the gas station that had been blown up by the wild boar that night and observed the ruins.

"What is it? Did you come up with another idea?"

After Quill and his mother had confirmed that neither of them had been harmed, he came over to Shendu. "Is there really a mole in S.H.I.E.L.D.? I knew some of the agents there before. S.H.I.E.L.D. seems to have brainwashed them somehow. In theory, betrayal should be impossible."

Shendu raised a brow. "There is definitely a mole. Even after brainwashing, they can still be influenced by outside forces later on. No place can become an impregnable fortress."

Shendu thought of Tohru. He had once been brainwashed as well, but he had eventually switched sides and even become one of Uncle's greatest helpers.

"Then how are you going to draw out this so-called mole?" Quill felt that Shendu's words made some sense.

"Simple. Just send in another mole to lure him out."

Quill's eyelid twitched after hearing Shendu's plan. "Send in another mole? You don't think S.H.I.E.L.D. is some small workshop that's short on staff, do you? Besides, do you even have a candidate?"

"A candidate? I have the perfect candidate."